Happy tenth birthday Harlow Parkrun: You mean so much to so many people

Athletics / Fri 8th Nov 2024 at 07:39pm

ON SATURDAY, Harlow parkrun celebrates its tenth birthday.

The parkrun is a glorious celebration of community participation. You can run, jog, walk, wheel. You set your own targets and you define success and, if you like, failure.

It is a 5k run around Harlow town park every Saturday at 9am.

The first Harlow Parkrun took place on Saturday November 8th, 2014. On that occasion, 154 took part.

With the number of park runs steadily growing around the country, members of Harlow Running Club negotiated with Harlow Council in order to try and establish one in Harlow.

And establish it they did.

First past the post were Donald Campbell and Katherine Foy.

Below is a film of the course by the organiser of the Great Notley event Len Marten.

Thanks got those who got it going and those who volunteered on the first day.

Debbie BARRY, Peter BLETHYN, Vicky CALVER, Paula COLEMAN, Darren FAZACKERLEY, John GILLESPIE, Pam GILLESPIE, Jenny HOLLAND, Karl KISALA, Robin Peter LOZEAU, Ursula Francisca LOZEAU, Jane MANN, Rory MARRIOTT, David PAGE, Janice PAGE, Claire PARDOE, Catherine PENKETH, Karen PSIRIS, Roy STEVEN, Andrew TERRELL

Numbers for the first year were quite modest. As low as 55 in late December. It wasn’t until July 2016 that they went over 200. From 2018 onwards the number hovered each side of 200. By May 2019, the number was over 300. Feb 8th, 2020 saw a record 416.

Since it returned after Covid, the numbers have varied between 180 and 320.

There has been 456 runnings of the Harlow parkrun. There has been 9588 finishers.

But the statistics and timelines only tell part of the story.

A parkrun develops a character all of its own. There are landmarks and different things on the course that may mean different things to different people.

People will talk about Coat-rack Corner, Roy’s Hill, the V turn.

They will all have other personal spots.Many will look out for different marshalls. There may be Martin wishing everyone a happy weekend or people encourage at the final turn to give it a go down the home straight.

There are many who enjoy the opportunities to put on their fancy dress.

There are people who are part of running clubs for whom a 5k run is just part of their week.

There are people you nod to. You may not know their name but you sort of feel you know them.

There are poignant signs of those who have passed on. Brooks Bridge pays tribute to Spencer Brooks, who passed away in 2020 aged just 47. There are others who have come and gone like Darren Fazackerly, Rachel Bayliss and incomparable Robin and Rosie Campbell.

The bench you pass by is dedicated to Summer Grant, who lost her life in the bouncy castle tragedy in 2016.

But there has also been marriage proposals as well as pre-wedding runs in suitable attire.

Gary Mead proposed to Debbie Mead on Christmas Day in 2018.

There are some people who have just run Harlow parkrun once and there is Kris Foster who has run an amazing 344 Harlow park runs and set his own personal best on the course last week.

We cannot underestimate how important the run is for people’s mental health. It gives many people a sense of purpose on Saturday morning and that endorphin fix keeps them going all week.

A sense of belonging. A sense of self worth. A sense of personal pride. A sense of a future and a sense of perspective.

There are many who love their pre race and post park run chats. Some go down to the Spurriers cafe to continue their morning.

Well done to all 9588 who have taken part. Who wil be the 10,000th Harlow park run finisher?

Finally thank you to all those who each week, make sure there is a run on. There is a clearly a lot more work that goes on behind the scenes that some of us may not appreciate.

The Event Director, Lee Webber. The Run Directors are Tracie Cook, Louise Peacock, Steve Wright and Susan Mould.

We feel that Lee Webber is the beating heart of Harlow Parkrun. A modest man but a real model citizen.